Chapter One Hundred And Thirty: It Is Not Wise To Poke A Mimbulus Mimblectania
Lina woke up the next morning cuddled up with Cedric, she sighed in content and snuggled closer to him never wanting to move.
"We have to get up" Cedric groggily said.
"I don't want to" she mumbled against his clothed chest.
"But we have to, school remember?"
"No" Lina squeezed her eyes closed and pulled the covers above her head. Lina was about to drift off asleep when there was a banging on her door.
"Lina, wake up and get ready or we'll be late for the train" it was Remus. When Lina didn't reply Remus carried on "or I'll get Sirius."
Lina groaned, low blow "I'm up!" She yelled.
It took Lina twenty minutes to get ready but she did, she doubled checked her trunk to make sure she had everything, checked that the cat carrier was secure and both Demeter and Egg were as happy as they could be and was ready to leave when Cedric caught her arm and pulled him back.
"I've got something for you," he said a crooked smile on his face.
"What?" Lina asked suspiciously.
Cedric reached into his pocket and pulled out a golden chain, he held it out in front of her and Lina noticed it was half of her mother necklace. "I tried to get it fixed but the man at the shop said it'd be easier either throw it away, which I'd never do, or split it into two separate necklaces so I thought you have half and I could have half, that way we're always with each other. Do you hate it?"
"No" Lina whispered a smile creeping over her lips "I love it" now her necklace represented not only her parents but her and Cedric too. "Will you put it on?"
"Of course."
Lina turned around, Cedric move Lina's hair to one side and kiss her neck, he then hooked the necklace on, once finished he kissed her head. Lina turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck "I know I say this a lot, mostly because of all the years we missed out on saying it but I love you."
Just as the couple left the room two trunks came hurtling mid-air past them, down the stairs and straight into Ginny, throwing her down two flights of stairs.
"FRED! GEORGE!" Mrs Wealsey screamed at the top of her lungs kneeling down by her daughter "YOU COULD HAVE DONE HER A SERIOUS INJURY, YOU IDIOTS-"
"We didn't mean to" Fred exclaimed leaning over the bannister next to Lina.
"Is she alright?" George asked.
Mrs Wealsey waved her wand over Ginny, muttering an inaudible spell healing her of any injuries she may have had, the ginger sat up and glared at her brothers "I'm going to kill you two" she spotted Lina in the gap between the twins and nodded her head.
Lina smacked the upside of Fred and George's head.
"OW!" They exclaimed turning around to glare at Lina.
"Don't nearly accidentally kill your sister" Lina said crossing her arms "and if you wanted to bring your trunks downstairs without having to carry them. Well, just watch and learn. Wingardium Leviosa" Lina said and the trunk Cedric was holding floated out of his hand.
"Show off" George grumbled.
Lina and Cedric headed down the stairs followed by very grumpy Weasley twins. Everyone but Harry, Ron and Hermione were in the hall. Wulburga's screams as annoying as it was had become background noise.
"When are we leaving?" Lina asked Remus.
"We should be leaving now, but Mad-Eye wants to wait for Sturgis Podmore" Remus replied anxiously looking at his watch.
"Oh, where's Harry, Ron and Hermione?" Mrs Wealsey huffed.
"I think they're still in their room" Lina answered.
Mrs Wealsey moved to the first step of the staircase and looked up "WILL YOU LOT GET DOWN HERE NOW, PLEASE!" Mrs Wealsey bellowed.
Harry, Ron and Hermione sped down the stairs, with their trunks and owl cages and joined the group in the already overcrowded corridor. Lina edged closer to Cedric who gladly wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Harry, you're to come with me and Tonks" Mrs Wealsey shouted over Mrs Blacks screams "leave your trunk and your owl, Alastor's going to deal with the luggage...oh for heaven's sake, Sirius, Dumbledore said no!"
The bear-like black dog that was Sirius's Animagus form was climbing over the trunks laid out on the floor to get to Harry's side.
"Oh honestly..." Mrs Wealsey sighed "well, on your own head be it" she wrenched open the front door and stepped out first.
"Wait...you're going with Harry?" Lina asked Sirius, but it didn't matter, Harry and Sirius had left the house and the door slammed shut behind them.
"Are you-"
"I'm fine," Lina said to Cedric giving him a small smile but Cedric could see right through it.
"Arthur, Weasley and Granger go next" Moody growled.
"Right" Mr Wealsey opened the door and let Ron and Hermione go out first, Mr Wealsey followed and the door slammed shut behind them.
A couple of minutes passed before Moody let the next group of three go "Mr Diggory, Miss Black and Miss Granger, your turn."
Cedric went first, followed closely behind Ginny. Lina looked back at Fred, George and Remus, she gave them a little wave and left Grimmauld Place.
"Well that was an interesting summer," Lina said as the trio walked further away from Grimmauld Place. Ginny was walking between Lina and Cedric.
"That's one word for it" Ginny replied "I'm not going to miss your grandmother's portraits screams whenever there was the slightest noise," Ginny said, with a slight skip in her step, she was glad to be outside of the house and she couldn't think of anyone better to 'guard' her to the station.
"Yeah I think my ears are still ringing," Cedric said with a smile.
"Alright you two" Lina said grinning herself, but she agreed with the pair, the daily insults wouldn't go amiss but then again she was going to Hogwarts where Peeves was.
The fifteen-minute walk passed quickly, the time was spent telling jokes and in Ginny's words, Lina and Cedric being so adorable that she didn't mind being around them for long periods of time.
They arrived at the platform with minutes to spare after Mr Wealsey, Ron and Hermione but before Remus, Fred and George.
"Any trouble?" Moody growled at Cedric and Remus.
"All good" Cedric answered.
"Same here" Remus agreed.
"I'll be reporting Sturgis to Dumbledore," Moody said "that's the second time he's not turned up in a week. Getting as unreliable as Mundungus."
"Well, look after yourselves," Remus said shaking all the kid's hands, he clapped Harry on the shoulder "you too Harry. Be careful." He looked at Lina last and gave her a hug and placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head "please behave."
"When don't I?" Lina replied.
"It's been great meeting all of you," Tonks said hugging Hermione and Ginny "we'll see you soon, I expect."
"Well you'll definitely be seeing me, I know where you live," Lina said grinning at her cousin.
"Oh, I'm going to miss you," Tonks said pulling Lina into a tight hug.
"Dora...lungs" Lina gasped tapping Tonk's back. Why did everyone love giving her the tightest hugs known to man?
"Sorry" she sheepishly replied and let Lina go.
Lina gave Mr and Mrs Wealsey a hug and thanked Mrs Wealsey for everything she did over the summer and then she turned to Cedric.
"This is harder than I thought it'd be," Lina said smiling sadly, tears pricked at her eyes. She was only going back to school, she could write to Cedric and see him on weekends if she wanted to but yet it felt like she was losing him.
Cedric took a deep breath, he too looked like he might shed a tear "I promised myself, I wouldn't cry" he said.
"You're cute," Lina said stating the obvious. Lina hugged Cedric placing her ear over his heart, she needed to hear the reassuring thump of his heartbeat, he was alive, he was alright she reminded herself.
"Write every day," Cedric said into Lina's hair.
"I promise you, you do the same though, alright?"
"Of course,"
Lina went up on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
"Quick, quick" Mrs Wealsey said "the train will be leaving any minute"
"I love you," Lina said against Cedric's lips and pecked them again.
"I love you too, Eve" Cedric replied and tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear.
"Lina!" Mrs Wealsey said.
Lina sighed and turned around just in time to see Sirius, still in Animagus form, rear on his back legs and placed his paws on Harry's shoulders.
"For heaven's sake, act more like a dog!" Mrs Wealsey hissed.
Lina only had enough time to give Sirius and Remus a quick hug and Cedric another kiss before grabbing her stuff and joining the others on the train.
"See you!" Harry called out the open window as the train began to move.
Cedric jogged alongside the train as it moved, slowly gaining speed. Lina blew Cedric a kiss right before he disappeared from view.
Now what?
"He shouldn't have come with us," Hermione said referring to Sirius in a worried voice.
"Oh, lighten up," Ron said "he hasn't seen daylight for months, poor bloke. Right, Lee?"
"Yeah," she said half-heartedly. Why hadn't Sirius gone to hug her like he had Harry?
"Well," Fred said clapping his hands together "can't stand chatting all day, we've got business to discuss with male Leee. You coming female Lee?"
"No," Lina said, "but I'll see you both later."
"Alright then," George said "see you all later" he and Fred disappeared down the corridor to the right.
The train was slowly gathering more speed, the houses they passed were becoming blurs and the train rocked side to side slightly rocking the passengers.
"Shall we go and find a compartment, then?" Harry asked.
Ron and Hermione exchanged a look.
"Er-" Ron said.
"We're - well - Ron and I are supposed to go into the prefect carriage," Hermione said awkwardly.
Ron didn't look at Harry, he had suddenly become interested in his fingernails.
"Oh," Harry said "right. Fine."
"I don't think we'll have to stay there all journey," Hermione said quickly, "our letters said we just get instructions from the head boy and girl and then patrol the corridors from time to time."
"It isn't that bad" Lina spoke up "Cedric would always come back to the carriage after patrolling the train. Sometimes I barely noticed he was gone."
"Fine" Harry said, "well, I - I might see you later then."
"Yeah, definitely," Ron said looking anxiously at Harry "it's a pain having to go down there, I'd rather - but we have to - I mean, I'm not enjoying it, I'm not Percy" he finished defiantly.
"I know you're not," Harry said and grinned but as Ron and Hermione disappeared down the carriage he couldn't help but feel slightly lost.
Lina felt the same, she had never been on the Hogwarts express without at least speaking to Cedric with the exception of the return journey last year. If she felt like this surrounded by her family he would she feel sitting alone at the feast? How would she survive without Lucy by her side just being her best friend or Danny with his bluntness and sarcasm, hell she would even miss Lucy and Danny's constant arguments and then there was Cedric, well there were no words needed for Cedric.
"Come on," Ginny said to Lina and Harry "if we get a move on we'll be able to save them places."
"Right" Harry picked up Hedwig's cage in one hand and his trunk in the other.
Lina picked up her cat cage but made her trunk float after her as they struggled down the corridor. People peered through the glass panelled doors as the three passed looking for a compartment of their own. The target of their looks was of course Harry.
In the very last carriage they met Neville Longbottom, Harry's fellow Gryffindor fifth year who Lina had only met briefly once or twice, he too was struggling with his trunk and tightly holding onto his toad, Trevor.
"Hi Harry" he panted "hi Ginny, oh...hi Lina...everywhere's full...I can't find a seat."
"What are you talking about?" Ginny said having squeezed past Neville to peer into the compartment behind him "there's room in this one, there's only Loony Lovegood in here-"
Nevile mumbled something about not wanting to disturb anyone.
"Don't be silly" Ginny laughed "she's all right" she opened the door and pulled her trunk in, followed by Lina, Harry and Neville.
The girl sat beside the window looked up. She had waist-length dirty blonde hair, very pale eyebrows and eyes that were very wide with bright blue eyes. The girl gave off an aura of distinct dottiness. Her wand was tucked behind her ear which Lina thought looked rather nice, she was wearing a necklace of butterbeer corks and she was reading her magazine upside down. Her eyes passed over Lina, Harry and Neville, finally she nodded.
"Thanks," Ginny said smiling at her.
The four trunks and Hedwig's cage were stowed away up in the luggage rack. Lina let Demeter and Egg out of their cage but kept the animals on her lap.
Luna watched them get settled over the top of her upside-down magazine, called The Quibbler, the girl barely blinked as she watched Harry, who had decided to sit down opposite her. Lina was slightly glad she was tucked up in the corner by the compartment door.
"Had a good summer Luna?" Ginny asked.
"Yes," Lina answered dreamily without looking away from Harry "yes, it was quite enjoyable, you know. You're Harry Potter" she added.
"I know I am," Harry said.
Nevile chuckled and Luna turned her eyes on him "I don't know who you are."
"I'm nobody," Neville said quickly.
"No you're not," Ginny said sharply "Neville Longbottom - Luna Lovegood. Luna's in my year, but in Ravenclaw."
"Wit beyond measure is mans greatest treasure," Lina said in a sing-song voice.
"I like that," Lina said scratching the top of Demeter's head.
Luna turned to Lina "and you're Evangelina Black."
"Yep" Lina nodded.
Luna raised her upside-down magazine high enough to hide her face and fell silent. Lina nodded in a 'sure' gesture, Harry and Neville looked at each other with their eyebrows raised and Ginny suppressed a giggle.
The train rattled on, the view changing from built up to the countryside where they were greeted with ominous grey clouds.
"Guess what I got for my birthday," Neville said.
"Another remembrall?" Harry asked.
"No. I could do with one, though, I lost the old one ages ago...no look at this..." he dug his head that wasn't holding Trevor into his schoolbag after a little bit of rummaging he pulled out what looked like a small grey cactus in a pot, except instead of their being needles there were small boils. "Mimbulus Mimblectania," he said proudly.
The small plant was pulsating slightly "it's really rare" Neville said beaming "I don't know if there's one in the greenhouse at Hogwarts, even. I can't wait to show it to Professor Sprout. My great uncle Alge got it for me in Assyria. I'm going to see if I can breed from it."
"It's really cool Neville" Lina spoke truthfully "I bet Professor's Sprout is going to be just as excited as you. Does it do anything?"
"Loads of stuff!" Neville said proudly "it's got an amazing defensive mechanism. Here, hold Trevor for me..."
Nevile dumped the toad into Harry's lap and took a quill from his schoolbag. Luna peered over the top of her magazine to watch what would happen. Neville held the Mimbulus Mimblectania up to his eyes, with his tongue between his teeth he chose his spot and gave the plant a sharp prod with the tip of his quill.
Liquid squirted from every boil on the plant. It hit the ceiling, the windows, Luna's magazine, Ginny who had flung her hands up to her face just in time, Lina's back as she had turned to protect herself and her pets but Harry whose hands were holding onto Trevor received a face full.
Neville, whose face and torso was covered in the stuff shook his head to get it away from his eyes "s-sorry" he gasped "I haven't tried that before...didn't realise it would be so...don't worry though, Stinksap's not poisonous" he added nervously as Harry spat a mouthful onto the floor.
At the worst possible moment, for Harry, their compartment door opened and Cho stood in the doorward looking confused at the scene in front of her "oh...hello, Harry" Cho said nervously "hello Lina, um...bad time?"
Harry wiped his glasses with his Trevor free hand so he could see "oh...hi" Harry said blankly.
Lina rolled her eyes and checked if Demeter had been saved from the Stinksap.
"Um..." Cho said "well...just thought I'd say hello...bye then" rather pink in the face, she closed the door and departed.
Lina quickly stood up, leaving her pets on her seat and pointed her wand at herself "scorgify" she said, fully cleared of Stinksap she ran after Cho. "Cho!" Lina exclaimed stopping the Ravenclaw in her tracks.
"Hi Lina," Cho said offering her a smile "good summer?"
"It was...alright. Did you hear that Cedric woke up?"
"I did," Cho said her face slightly brightening "I wanted to visit but they said family only. How is he?"
"He's good," Lina said smiling to herself "he was lucky...really lucky."
"Do you know why he woke up?"
Lina shook her head, it was a mystery she knew would never be solved "no, and I don't think we ever will but I'm just glad he did."
"Of course," Cho said, down the carriage, someone called Cho's name "I better go, I'll see you later Lina," Cho said and turned around to leave.
"Wait, Cho!" Lina said and gently grabbed her arm "Harry he..." Lina knew Harry would kill her for outright saying he had a crush on her, she needed a way to be subtle about it "...he gets shy around girls he likes" satisfied she hurried back to her compartment where everyone was now free of Stinkscap.
"How do you know Cho?" Harry immediately demanded.
"We've dated the same guy remember?" Lina said sitting back down, Harry gave her a stern look. "After the end of year feast we talked. She's rather quite nice."
"Did...did you mention me?" Harry asked trying to sound casual.
Lina smiled "why did you want me to?"
Harry said no more, embarrassed he barely even looked at Lina again.
Ron and Hermione did not turn up for nearly an hour, by which time the food trolly had passed, Lina had bought extra just in case they were hungry. Lina, Harry, Ginny and Neville had finished their pumpkin pasties and were busy swapping chocolate frog cards when the compartment door slid open and Ron and Hermione with all their luggage entered.
"I'm starving," Ron said.
Lina threw him a chocolate frog, he caught it and sat down next to Harry, Hermione sat down next to Lina.
"Well, there are two fifth-year prefects from each house," Hermione said looking slightly disgruntled "boy and girl from each house."
"And guess who's a Slytherin prefect?" Ron said with his eyes shut.
"Malfoy" Harry replied at once.
"Course," Ron said bitterly stuffing the chocolate frog in his mouth, Lina threw him another.
"And that cow Pansy Parkinson" Hermione said, "how she got to be prefect when she's thicker than a concussed troll..."
"Who are Hufflepuff's?" Lina asked.
"Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott," Ron said.
"And Anthony Goldstein and Padma Patil for Ravenclaw," Hermione said.
"You went to the Yule Ball with Padma Patil," Luna said in a vague voice. Everyone turned to look at Luna who was gazing unblinkingly at Ron over the top of The Quibbler.
Ron swallowed his mouthful of chocolate frog "yeah I did" he said looking mildly surprised.
"She didn't enjoy it very much" she informed him "she doesn't think you treated her very well, because you wouldn't dance with her. I don't think I'd have minded" she added thoughtfully "I don't like dancing very much" she retreated behind The Quibbler again.
Ron stared at her with his mouth hanging open for a couple of seconds, then looked at Ginny for some kind of explanation, but Ginny had stuffed her knuckle in her mouth to stop herself giggling. Ron shook his head and then checked his watch.
"We're supposed to patrol the corridors every so often," he told the others "and we can give out punishments if people are misbehaving. I can't wait to get Crabbe and Goyle for something."
"You're not supposed to abuse your position, Ron!" Hermione said sharply.
"Yeah, right because Malfoy won't abuse it at all" Ron said sarcastically.
"So you're going to descend to his level?"
"No, I'm just going to make sure I get his mates before he gets mine."
"For heaven's sake, Ron-"
"I'll make Goyle do lines, it'll kill him, he hates writing," Ron said happily. He lowered his voice to mimic Goyle's, he scrunched up his face and pretended to write "I...must...not...look...like...a...babon's...backside..."
Everybody laughed, but nobody laughed harder than Luna, her laughs were more like screams, Demeter stood up and hissed and Egg blew fire in Luna's direction in agitation. Luna found the joke so funny her magazine slipped from her grasp and fell to the floor.
"That was funny!" She gasped. Her eyes swam with tears as she gasped for breath. Ron looked completely confused and the others were now laughing at his expression. Luna who was still laughing was now clutching her ribs.
"Are you taking the mickey?" Ron asked frowning at her.
"Baboon's...backside!" She choked.
Everyone was watching Luna in wonder except Harry who had picked up Luna's magazine. He scanned it and then looked at Luna "can I have a look at this?" Harry asked Luna eagerly.
She nodded still breathless from Ron's joke.
Harry subtly motioned for Lina to sit next to him, which she did and together they looked at the article Harry had opened.
SIRIUS - BLACK AS HE'S POINTED?
Notorious mass murderer or innocent singing sensation?
Lina and Harry looked at each both trying to contain their laughter and went back to the article.
For fourteen years Sirius Black has been believed guilty of the mass murder of twelve innocent Muggles and one wizard. Black's audacious escape from Azkaban two years ago has led to the widest manhunt ever conducted by the Ministry of Magic. None of us has ever questioned that he deserves to be recaptured and handed back to the Dementors
BUT DOES HE?
Startling new evidence has recently come to light that Sirius Black may not have committed the crimes for which he was sent to Azkaban. In fact, says Doris Purkiss, of 18 Acanthia Way, Little Norton, Black may not even have been present at the killings.
'What people don't realise is that Sirius Black is a false name" says Mrs Purkiss. "The man people believe to be Sirius Black is actually Stubby Boardman, lead singer of popular singing group The Hobgoblins, who retired from public life after being struck on the ear by a turnip at a concert in Little Norton church hall nearly fifteen years ago. I recognised him the moment I saw his picture in the paper. Now, Stubby couldn't possibly have committed those crimes, because on the day in question he happened to be enjoying a candlelit dinner with me. I have written to the Minister for Magic and am expecting him to give Stubby alias, Sirius, a full pardon any day now.'
"Ha! Brilliant" Lina quietly laughed.
"Wonder what else they've got in here," Harry said.
Lina returned to her seat and let Harry flick through the magazine in peace.
"Anything good in there?" Ron asked once Harry finished with the magazine.
"Of course not," Hermione said before Harry could answer "The Quibblers rubbish, everyone knows that."
"Excuse me," Lina said her voice losing it's dreamy like quality "my father's the editor."
"I - oh," Hermione said embarrassed "well...it's got some interesting...I mean, it's quite..."
"I'll have that back, thank you," Luna said coldly snatching the magazine back. She found her page again and turned it upside down and disappeared behind it just as the compartment door opened again.
Lina wasn't surprised at the arrival of Draco and his friends Grabbe and Goyle. Lina wasn't sure if Draco had noticed her as he was only looking at Harry smirking.
"What?" Harry asked aggressively before Draco could open his mouth.
"Manners, Potter, or I'll have to give you a detention" Draco drawled "you see, I, unlike you, have the power to hand out punishments."
"Yeah," Harry said, "but you, unlike me, are a git, so get out and leave us alone."
Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville laughed. Lina didn't. She sat there watching what was happening remaining impartial.
Draco's lip curled "tell me, how does it feel being second best to Weasely, Potter?" He asked.
"Shut up, Malfoy," Hermione said sharply.
"I see I've touched a nerve" Draco smirked, "well, just watch yourself, Potter, because I'll be dogging your footsteps in case you step out of line."
"Alright, that's enough Draco," Lina said firmly.
"Ah, Evangelina!" Draco said rounding on his cousin "how was your summer?"
"Fine" Lina answered shortly, not wanting to devel into details. She feared his dogging comments may have a connection to Sirius, but there was no way he could know for sure if the dog was an actual person or not. "And yours?"
"Excellent" Draco smugly said, "did you see I got made prefect."
"I did," Lina said smiling slightly, she was proud of her cousin for his achievement "but don't think this means you can go and give me detention now."
"And why not?" Draco asked a slight tease to his voice, it was like they had forgotten the others were in the carriage.
"Because while you may be prefect I am still your elder and what is it we've been taught since childhood, respect your elders, especially family."
Draco spluttered and was flustered, he didn't respond to Lina, the only thing he could think to reply with was a nasty comment but Draco would never intentionally insult Lina. So he shot Harry a nasty look and left with Grabbe and Goyle.
"Malfoy didn't insult you!" Ron said incredulously.
"No he didn't," Lina said in a way that suggested she wouldn't talk about the interaction anymore. She didn't need to explain that she and Draco had their own kind of bond.
The weather as they got closer to Hogwarts remained undecided between pouring down with rain or bright sunshine. When darkness finally fell and the lamps in the train ignited Luna rolled up her copy of The Quibbler and tucked it away in her bag and took to staring at everyone in the compartment instead.
Lina was sat curled up in the corner, her head rested against the train wall, absentmindedly playing with her half of her necklace. Was Cedric holding on to his half?
"We'd better change," Hermione said at last.
All of them opened their trunks and change into their school robes, Lina's yellow robes standing out amongst the mass of red. Hermione and Ron pinned their prefect badges to their chests and Lina pinned her silver Quidditch badge to her chest.
At last, the train began to slow down as they pulled into Hogsmeade station. Up and down the train students began to collect their luggage and pets. Lina put both Demeter and Egg into their shared cage much to their protests.
Ron and Hermione left to go and supervise students getting off the train leaving Lina and the other to look after Crookshanks and Pigwidgeon.
"I'll carry that owl if you like," Luna said to Harry reaching out for Pigwidgeon as Neville stowed Trevor into his pocket.
"Oh - er - thanks," Harry said handing her the cage.
They followed the students out the train. As Lina stepped off the train and onto the platform a chill ran through her. She hugged her robes tighter around herself but the damage was done, Lina was scared. Of what she wasn't sure but all she knew was that for the first time the sight of the lit-up Hogwarts castle didn't fill her with warmth and safety.